Junior B Lions back in the game

Bolstered by the return of two former scoring heavy weights, Michele Lefebvre and Chris Rutley, the Morrisburg Junior B Lions gave the Winchester Hawks a run for their money here Friday night.

Still hurting from an 11-2 loss to the Hawks on their home ice on November 4, the Lions, according to coach Thom Racine, “retooled and came back to play a solid game.”

The Lions kept pace throughout Friday night’s game against the division leading Hawks only to give up a 6-5 loss on a Hawks’ power-play goal with just 54 seconds left on the clock.

Coming through solid for the Lions, once again, was Alex Steingruber who put together an outstanding three goal performance.

Steingruber’s first goal was scored on the Lions’ power play (assisted by Chris Rutley), and the second was assisted by Ryan Ward and Clarke Veenstra. The third he scored, unassisted, to tie the game 5-5, at 14:43 of the third period while the Lions were short-handed.

“We battled them hard,” said Racine. “Then we took a horrible slashing penalty in the neutral zone (with 2:20 left in the third period and the score tied 5-5) and that cost us.”

“Steingruber had a great game. We have the offense now (with the addition of Rutley and Lefebvre). Now we have to start winning games.”

It is the second time this year that Lefebvre has signed with the Lions, but this time with the December 1 card deadline here, he understands the Lions can’t afford to waste a card.

The card deadline means that all teams must go down to 25 cards (signed or unsigned) and that is it for the rest of the season.

Lefebvre was the Lions’ Rookie of the Year last season and second in the Lions’ scoring. He also finished in the St. Lawrence Division’s top 10 scoring race.

“He’s a dynamic player and he is happy to be back,” says Racine.

Chris Rutley started his junior hockey with the Lions. In the 2009/10 season he was the team’s top scorer and finished eighth overall in the St. Lawrence Division’s scoring race. That year he was named the Lions best forward and picked up team silverware for top scorer and most assists.

The following season he was off to college in Kingston and with the travel situation, the Lions traded him to the Westport Rideaus.

His return to the Lions this past weekend was the result of trades involving the Rideaus, the Lions Char-Lan, Rutley and former Lions’ goaltender Erik Plummadore who ended up in Char-Lan.

Rutley is in his final season of junior age and next year will be an overage player.

“They (Rutley and Lefebvre) are both very dynamic players and they make us better,” says Racine. They make our kids better. In Winchester, we never led the game, but we were never really out of it either. With seconds to go, Steingruber had a wide open net. He shot and the puck hit something that deflected it away. We were that close to the tie.”

Dylan Chessell scored the lone first period goal for a 1-0 Hawks lead.

Steingruber tied it at 12:51 of the second period, but a pair of quick counters from Josh Stubbings (14:18 and 14:30) gave the Hawks a two-goal edge.

The Lions, however, weren’t ready to roll-over, and before the period ended they had tied it on goals from Clarke Veenstra (assisted by Chris Rutley) and Steingruber (from Ward and Veenstra).

In the third, the Hawks again went up by two (Brock Burge at 3:42 and Steven Johnston at 4:41) to again force the Lions to recharge.

That they did with a power play marker from Lefebvre (assisted by Michael Paquette at 6:02) and Steingruber’s unassisted, short-handed counter which tied it 5-5.

Vincent Bauline-Charland scored on the Hawks power-play at 19:06 for the 6-5 win.

The Lions were scheduled to play the South Grenville Rangers at the Cardinal and District Community Centre on Sunday, November 27.

The game did start but was cancelled due to ice conditions just seconds after the puck was dropped.

“We don’t know what happened. The boys said the ice was brutal behind the net during warm-up.”

According to Racine, safety became an issue in the area just seconds after the game started and as a result it was cancelled.

With just one game on the weekend and that the loss to the Hawks, the Lions now find themselves trailing the CharLan Rebels in the St. Lawrence Division standing by four points.

The Rebels put together a pair of weekend wins over Alexandria 5-2 and Akwesasne 5-4.

Coming up the Lions are in Casselman Thursday night. They host the St. Lawrence Division’s third place Alexandria Glens at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday.

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Katie Buter, Cameryn Broad and Ali Van Hoof were named the Morrisburg & District Skating Club StarSkate Spirit of Skating Award winners at the club’s annual banquet on Sunday.

Buter and Broad received the award as co-winners at the Intermediate Skating level while Van Hoof won at the Senior level.

The purpose of the StarSkate Spirit of Award is to recognize Intermediate and Senior level skaters who have demonstrated, spirit, determination and commitment to the StarSkate program throughout the skating season. The recipients were selected by a committee which consisted of all coaches at the two levels and board members representing both intermediate and senior skaters.

“It was very difficult this year to pick out one skater,” said Ellen Biemond. “This year you have all worked very hard, and you should all be very proud of yourselves.”

Morrisburg club president Julie Van Hoof kicked off the awards program.

Tonight marks the end of the 2013-14 skating season,” said Van Hoof. “It has certainly been one of the best skating seasons for the Morrisburg and District Skating Club.”

“On behalf of the Club, I’d like to thank all members of the board for all the work that each of you has done throughout the skating season. I would also like to thank those parents who continue to volunteer when needed. The success of our club comes from the dedication and commitment of our many volunteers. MDSC is very fortunate to have such a strong volunteer base.”

Van Hoof also thanked the MDSC coaching team which included Allison Scott, Louise Dimmick, Danielle Napier, Veronica Whyte, Ali Van Hoof and Dana Grant (dance coach). “Each of you devotes so much time and effort into coaching, encouraging and believing in your skaters. The relationship you develop with each of them are memories that will never be forgotten. Without you, we would not have the successful and talented skates we have within our club.”

Van Hoof then turned her attention to the skaters.

“Tonight we are very proud to be rewarding many of you for your accomplishments and achievements. It doesn’t matter what jumps you land or what tests you passed. It is important to remember you are your own individual on the ice, working hard to achieve your personal goals. MDSC is very proud of each of you for all the hard work and commitment that goes into your skating. I encourage all of our skaters to continue to follow your dreams and strive for your goals.”

Accomplishments were recognized in the four skating disciplines: Dance, Skills, Interpretive and Free Skate.

Topping off her goals this year was Alisha Van Hoof who completed her gold level in Interpretive and in Skills. “Two golds in two disciplines is a huge achievement,” said club test chair Isabella Jordan. This is the highest level of achievement in the Skate Canada Program, and achieving gold is certainly something to be proud of.”

The club and her fellow skaters also took the time to say good bye to senior skater Alyssa MacMillan who heads off to university in the fall. “Alyssa, you have devoted so much time into our club, both as a skater and as a Program Assistant,” said Van Hoof. “You worked hard to achieve your personal goals, and should be very proud that along the way you achieved a gold test. On behalf of the Morrisburg and District Skating Club, I wish you all the best as you prepare for a new journey in your life.”

The Can Skate members of the Morrisburg & District Skating Club wrapped up their season at an ice cream party banquet in March. At that banquet, Emma Morrow was named Canskater of the Year and Abigail Smail and Lilly Napier were named the “Spirit Champions”.

The Morrisburg Junior B Lions dug themselves a little deeper into the St. Lawrence Division basement, when they lost to the Alexandria Glens 11-2 in front of their hometown fans on Sunday afternoon. It was the Lions eighth consecutive loss and it leaves them in the division’s sixth place position, three points behind the Akwesasne Wolves.

The wins give the Glens sole possession of third place with 10 points.

The first period of Sunday’s game got off to a slow start, but just over nine minutes in Jarren Burke beat Lions goaltender Ryan Cooper to get the Glens rolling.

By the end of the second period, they were up 4-0.

Chris Rutley put the Lions on the scoreboard less than a minute into the second period with help from Michel Lefebvre but that was it for the Lions until well into the third period.

The Glens stormed back for two more in the second for a commanding 6-1 lead.

At 5:06 of the third period, Lefebvre scored short-handed with help from Chris Rutley and that was it for the Lions scoring as the Glens pumped home another five to claim the 11-2 win.

Ryan Cooper handled the Lions loss and was relieved in net for the final 7:15 of the game by Joey Lamarch. Lions goaltender Mikael Dion was serving his first of a three game suspension assessed in last week’s game against the Winchester Hawks. Antoine Marchand handled the net duties for the Glens.

The first period saw just two minor penalties assessed, both to the Glens. The Lions sat out two minors and a misconduct for checking to the head in the second, while the Glens were assessed one minor. The Lions handled the six minor penalties assessed in the third period and the Glens took advantage for two power-play goals.

Jonathan Cyr and TJ Burns led the Glens scoring with three goals apiece and Luca Ciale, Bradley Gabbour, Jarren Burke, Erik Just and Leo MacLean all had singles. The Glens out shot the Lions 45-35.

This week the Lions announced a change to their bench as Andrew Scott joins Dan Frawley’s coaching staff.

“On behalf of the Lions management, I would like to thank Herbie Seguin for his commitment to our organization, and wish Herbie all the best in his future coaching endeavours,” said Lions manager Kevin Casselman.

Scott is an experienced junior coach having served two seasons as assistant coach with the South Grenville Rangers. From the Rangers, he moved up to Junior A as an assistant coach with the Kemptville Jr. “A” 73s before returning for two seasons at the Junior B level as the coach of the Metcalfe Jets.

“Andrew brings experience to us in the recruitment process and is a welcome addition to our staff,” said Casselman.

The Lions have a busy week coming up as they travel to Casselman this Thursday, night November 1 to take on the Vikings at 7:30 p.m.

They have two scheduled home games this weekend, the first when the Brockville Tikis come to town for an 8:30 p.m. match this Friday night, November 2. On Sunday, (November 4), starting at 2:30 p.m. they will host the Casselman Vikings.

The Spikes Volleyball program wrapped up at Seaway District High School on Sunday, with a two-hour Clinic provided by six members of the Ottawa University Women’s Volleyball team.

“The Ottawa U players ran the girls through some challenging drills in all the elements, and we finished the day playing some three on three,” said Spikes program coordinator Andy Lee. “It was nice for our girls to see these girls play against each other on the court.”

This year’s Spikes program was hugely successful with 38 players attending from South and North Dundas, Maitland, Brockville and Kemptville.

“We had the most girls register ever this year, and we had to increase our coaching staff numbers to accommodate them” says Lee of the dedicated group of eight instructors who were on board for the program. “We had numerous skill-based nights as well as clinics put on by Lindsay Waddell (Seaway’s Senior Spartan coach), Fraser MacIntosh (one of the RMC Kingston Women’s coaches) and of course our yearly Shanna Dawley workout night.”

“It is easy to see the improvements of the girls year after year with the increased court time.”

Lee also concluded that the decision to include grade 7 players was a good decision, and starting up earlier in October means the girls are ready for the start to the high school season.

“Both Seaway High, the UCDSB and Seaway’s custodial staff have been very accommodating, with the use of the gym and the fitness room.”

“We also had a tremendous group of coaches this year. Many of them played high school volleyball and want to give back.”

“It all combined to ensure the continued success of the Spikes program.”